(A) Vehicle requirements.
(1) Design and construction. Mobile food service vehicles must be specifically designed and constructed for the purpose of preparation and sale of the specific type of food being sold and may not operate in any manner that is not compatible with the purpose for which the vehicle has been designed and constructed. Mobile food service vehicles must be kept in good mechanical and structural condition.
(2) Licensing. Mobile food service vehicles must be licensed and equipped in accordance with the rules and regulations of all local, state and federal agencies having jurisdiction over such vehicles. The preparation and sale of food from mobile food service vehicles must comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations, including without limitation health and food regulations.
(B) Right-of-way.
(1) Mobile food service vehicles shall only operate, stand, stop, or park in areas where same is legally permitted and mobile food service vehicles may not operate, stop, stand or park in any area of the right-of-way that is intended for use by moving vehicular travel (i.e. roadway, travel lane), except in the event of a street closure for a special event. Mobile food service vehicles, including ice cream trucks, may not operate, stop, stand or park that in any way violates the provisions of Chapter 156 of the Revised Code of Ordinance (which regulates traffic, streets and parking), that impedes the flow of traffic, that interferes with ingress or egress to or from any property or that presents an unsafe condition for patrons, pedestrians or other vehicles. The operator of a mobile food service vehicle shall not place the vehicle in reverse in order to make or attempt a sale.
(2) Mobile food service vehicles, including ice cream trucks, shall park facing the same direction as traffic at a distance of no more than 18 inches between the curb face or edge of pavement and with the service window of the vehicle facing the curb or edge or pavement. Customers may be served from the side of the mobile food service vehicle that is furthest from the area customarily used for motor vehicle travel.
(3) When a mobile food service vehicle is allowed to operate in the public right-of-way, no seating area shall be provided, except as permitted in conjunction with a street closure for a special event.
(4) When a mobile food service vehicle is allowed to operate in the public right-of-way, no cooking or heating device shall be permitted, except within the mobile food service vehicle.
(5) When a mobile food service vehicle is allowed to operate in the public right-of-way, no mobile food service vehicle shall be located or make sales within 50 feet of an intersection.
(C) Additional location restrictions. No mobile food service vehicle may operate in a location that:
(1) Is situated within 200 feet to a restaurant or other similar business that prepares and sells food and/or beverages for consumption on the premises, which distance shall be measured from the property line of the business to the closest point of the mobile food service vehicle, provided said restriction shall not apply to a food service vehicle operated by a restaurant or similar business located on its own business premises;
(2) Is situated upon any public right of way adjacent to or within a municipal or other public park or recreational area having situated therein a food and/or beverage concession or similar facility;
(3) Impedes the ingress to or egress from another business or otherwise causes undue interference with access to another business; or
(4) Blocks the lawfully placed signage of another business.
(5) Prevents access to another business by emergency vehicles.
(D) Pedestrians. If on or adjacent to a sidewalk, the components of a mobile food service vehicle’s operations, including signage, seating areas and patron queue (i.e. customer line) may not reduce the clear pedestrian path of travel on the sidewalk to less than six feet. All awnings or canopies of the vehicle shall be at least six feet, eight inches above the sidewalk.
(E) Distance between units. A mobile food service vehicle shall not operate within 200 feet of any other mobile food service vehicle, except during a food truck rally.
(F) Safety and fire prevention. All cooking, heating and electrical equipment and all cooking practices must comply with applicable safety regulations, including applicable fire and electrical codes and any other safety requirements imposed by the City’s Fire Department. No cooking or heating equipment may be used in an ice cream truck. All mobile food service vehicles must be equipped with fire extinguishers that are inspected annually and certified as meeting National Fire Protection Association standards. No power cord, cable or equipment shall be extended across any public street, sidewalk or other public property.
(G) Noise. No sounds may be produced by a mobile food service vehicle or by the vendor which can be heard outside of the vehicle from 75 or more feet from the vehicle’s location.
(H) Support methods. No mobile food service vehicle may use stakes, rods or any other method of support that must be drilled, driven or otherwise fixed into or onto asphalt, pavement, curbs, sidewalks or buildings.
(I) Spills. To prevent discharges into waterways, drainage systems or public sewer systems, each food truck shall comply with all stormwater regulations of the City and all regulations regarding prohibited discharges to public sewers. In addition, each vehicle shall have a spill response plan to contain and remediate any discharge from the vehicle.
(J) Waste collection. The area of a mobile food service vehicle operation must be kept neat and orderly at all times. Operation of a mobile food service vehicle in an area is deemed acceptance by the operator of the responsibility for cleanliness of the area (not less than 50 feet from all parts of the vehicle) surrounding the operations regardless of the occurrence or source of any waste in the area. During each period of operation at a location, the operator must provide proper trash receptacles for public use that are sufficient and suitable to contain all trash generated by the mobile food service vehicle. All trash receptacles must be emptied when full, and all waste must be removed prior to departure of a mobile food service vehicle from a location.
(K) Disposal of Fats, Oil, And Grease.
(1) Food truck operators must provide the addresses of the businesses or facilities at which any fat, oil or grease generated during the operation of the food truck or food trailer is disposed of, including the contact information for the individual or business responsible for the operation of each such business or facility.
(2) Any change in the businesses or facilities used for the disposal of such fat, oil and grease shall be reported to the City Clerk in writing by the food truck vendor within three (3) business days of the first use of the new business or facility. No oil may be disposed of on public property or in the sewer system.
(L) Pedestrian service only. Mobile food service vehicles shall serve pedestrians only. Drive-through or drive-in service is prohibited.
(M) Signage.
(1) Signage for each mobile food service vehicle shall be limited to signs on the exterior or interior of the vehicle and one A-frame sign. All signs on the exterior of the vehicle shall be secured and shall not project more than six inches from the vehicle.
(2) One A-frame sign (unless otherwise prohibited within § 118.03) may be placed outside the mobile food service vehicle, provided that the base of the sign must be placed no further than two feet beyond the mobile food service vehicle. The A-frame sign shall not exceed eight square feet per side with maximum height of 48 inches and shall not obstruct or impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(N) Alcohol sales. Mobile food service vehicles and vendors are prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages.
(O) Insurance.
(1) Mobile food service vehicles must maintain all motor vehicle insurance coverage required by applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
(2) Mobile food service vehicles must liability insurance in a minimum sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00), issued by companies licensed to do business in the State of Illinois. The insurance certificate evidencing the coverage shall contain an agreement signed by the insurance company that, prior to modification, cancellation or termination of the subject policy, written notice shall be sent to the City by said insurance company.
(P) Exterior cooking equipment. No food preparation equipment situated outside of the mobile food service vehicle is permitted.
(Q) Restroom Facility. A food truck operating at a location for a duration of more than three hours must have a written agreement, available upon request by the City, that permits the operator and/or employees to have access to a flushable restroom no more than 200 feet of the vending location during all hours of operation.
(Prior Code, Art. 11, § 11.18(D))